Krabbe Loses in Return, Blames Media

Katrin Krabbe, her future clouded by a drug investigation, lost her first race Saturday since German track officials lifted her four-year suspension.

Krabbe ran the 100-meter preliminary heat in 11.70 seconds to finish second behind Andrea Phillip, also of Germany, who ran 11.46.

About 2,500 fans and a huge media contingent were at the meet in Krabbe’s hometown in eastern Germany, where she is still adored despite a scandal that might keep her out of the Olympics.

After losing the heat, Krabbe dropped out of the final, blaming media pressure. “I thank the spectators for their interest, but the psychological pressure from the media fuss is too great for me,” she said.

Phillip won the final in 11.34 seconds, beating Manuela Derr, who ran an 11.66.

Krabbe, 22, is reigning world champion at 100 and 200 meters.

The German track and field federation suspended Krabbe and sprinters Grit Breuer and Silke Moeller on Feb. 15 after drug tests showed that their urine samples, although drug free, came from the same person.

Upon appeal, the federation cleared the three of manipulating the tests and allowed them to compete in Germany.

But the International Amateur Athletics Federation is looking into the case, and German newspapers have quoted insiders as saying that an international suspension is likely.